Hengchun Three Treasures Introduction
In the past, the three treasures of Hengchun were "Qiongma, onion, and port tea." Today, they are "Qiongma, onion, and watermelon." With the passage of time, watermelon and onion remain the main agricultural products of the Hengchun Peninsula. However, Qiongma has gradually declined due to industrial changes in Taiwan. Now only the "Qiongma Industrial History Exhibition Hall" remains, providing visitors an opportunity to understand the development and decline of Qiongma, serving as a testament to the once-thriving Qiongma industry. Qiongma: Among the three treasures of Hengchun, Qiongma is the most famous and historically significant. Taiwan's Qiongma was introduced by American consul Dewey, initially planted at the Taipei Agricultural Research Institute, and a few plants were later transplanted to the Hengchun Tropical Nursery two years later. Due to the favorable trial conditions, large-scale planting began. In 1918, machinery and equipment were imported, taking Qiongma production towards mechanization. The uses of hemp diversified, not only for making ropes but also widely used in hammocks, burlap sacks, shoes, mattresses, carpets, brushes, and paper, even used as packaging material in farms and factories. With a promising market price, the people of Hengchun flocked to the mountains, cutting down trees to plant Qiongma seedlings on all available land. At its peak, production reached 200 tons in a month, earning the title "Light of the East." During the best times, the price of Qiongma rose to NT$12 per pound, making Hengchun residents quite wealthy, resulting in the saying "Qiongma transforms into high buildings." Qiongma thus became representative of Hengchun. Later, with the rise of industry and fierce competition in the international market, prices plummeted, and the profits from growing Qiongma became negligible, leading to its decline. It wasn't until the rise of tourism that Hengchun villagers turned their enthusiasm for growing Qiongma towards the tourism industry. Onion: The arid gravel soil of the Hengchun Peninsula and the strong mountain breezes in winter are suitable for onion bulb growth. Moreover, the stronger the mountain wind, the better the onion quality. After over 30 varieties were introduced from the United States in the 1950s, Hengchun became the main onion-producing area in Taiwan, even accounting for 80% of Japan's onion imports in the 1970s. During the peak onion harvest months of March and April, golden onions can be seen piled up along the roadsides, shimmering in the sunlight. The Checheng Township Farmers' Association promotes onions through tourism by organizing the "Hengchun Onion Festival/Carnival," while also developing various onion by-products, making onions a representative specialty of Pingtung County. Port Tea: Produced in Gangkou Village of Manzhou Township, located at the mouth of Gangkou Creek, it is said that during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, the county magistrate enjoyed drinking tea but couldn't find fresh tea trees on the Hengchun Peninsula. Therefore, tea seeds were purchased from Anxi, Fujian, and tried planting in Hengchun and Manzhou, resulting in successful cultivation in Gangkou Village. Due to the hillside being sheltered from the northeast monsoon and exposed to the southwest monsoon, with abundant rainfall, it is suitable for tea cultivation, hence named Port Tea. Port tea is mostly planted on hillside terraced fields and is produced year-round, although the planting area is very small, with an annual output of about 600 kilograms. The price is high, especially for spring tea and winter tea. Due to climate and soil influences, the biggest feature of Port Tea is its strong bitterness, high concentration, and durability in brewing, accompanied by a rich and fragrant aroma with a lasting aftertaste. Its unique flavor is said to have a remarkable effect on treating coughs and colds when consumed with rock sugar, making it one of the specialties of Kenting National Park. Watermelon: In recent years, the Hengchun Peninsula has utilized the riverbeds of the Sioulin Creek and Fenggang Creek to grow watermelons during the season of the winter mountain breeze, making it the only place in Taiwan that produces watermelons in winter. The red flesh of the watermelon is as passionate as the fiery sun of the Hengchun Peninsula. The locally grown watermelons are sweet, crisp, juicy, and have an excellent texture. As a result, watermelon has gradually begun to replace port tea as one of the treasures of Hengchun.
Port Tea
Qionghua Industrial History Display Area
